LIMBANG: An important source of income for villagers living along the Limbang-Pandaruan Road to Brunei is edible saltwater shellfish known locally as lukan.
GOOD BUSINESS: Awang shows his supply of lukan.
This species of clam is still plentiful along the brackish waters of the Pandaruan River and is a favourite among locals.
Many of the villagers living along the road depend on this shellfish, which is available throughout the year, as a main source of income.
Vendors, who have been collecting and selling these clams for years, can make a decent living of several thousand ringgit a month.
Lukan vendor Awang Tamin told The Borneo Post Adventure Team (BAT) that women usually collect the clams early in the day from the river when the tide is low.
“We have a constant supply and the market is good not only for locals but for Bruneians and Sabahans on the way back from shopping sprees in Limbang town or other parts of Sarawak,” he said.
Awang usually has around 100kg of lukan of varying grades at his stall every day.
They are sold in clusters of 20 to 30 depending on the size. The best grade is sold at RM20, medium grade at RM15 and the lowest grade at RM10.
The best grade has the thickest flesh and the shell tends to be rounder compared to the lower grades.
Awang can sell around 40kg to 50kg per day. He also acts as a middle man for those who sell his catch at the wet markets in Pandaruan or Limbang.
Restaurant operators also get lukan from him.
“The clam’s meat can be cooked in curry, roasted in its shell and eaten with sauce, or in the Chinese restaurants they liked to steam the clam meat with ginger,” he added.